Ceres 7, Giant Killing 13, GTO Shonan 14 Days 6 (Level Comics 30 May 2012 manga)

Ayashi no Ceres: Tenkuu Otogizoushi © Watase Yuu/Shogakukan
[First serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Ceres: A Heaven's Fairy Tale by Level Comics

C-Genomers, incapacitated by the nationwide vector, fail to manifest the Tennyo within and die one after another. Aya quizzes Tohya over the vector source, whether his blood was used in its manufacture, but before she can get answers, an assassin sent by Aki appears!

As for why this Ceres volume is sub-titled Maya, VIZ Media's Ceres: Celestial Legend, Vol. 7 blurb offers:

The search for Ceres' hagoromo or ‘celestial robes’ brings the action back to Tokyo - to Miyagi, specifically, where rumours of a spectral white dog (“figuring in the celestial legend!,” says Suzumi) prompt a transfer to girls-only high school for Aya, Chidori, and...Yuhi?! Connected to the dog's increasingly frequent attacks is a sweet and popular girl named Maya Hirobe, but why — and more importantly, how — is she involved? Is it possible that Maya is a C-Genome...and doesn't even know it?

Giant Killing vol 13 (of 23+)
By Tsujitomo & Tsunamoto Masaya

The match against Tokyo Victory continues, with the score at 1-0 in ETU's favor. Since Mochida entered the game, however, ETU struggles to score another goal. Can ETU wrest a win in the face of Mochida-led Victory?

GTO Shonan 14 Days vol 6 of 9
By Fujisawa Toru

Oedipus parental distrust rages out of control. Miko conceives of a plan to raze White Swan. Fortunately, with Riko's help, the White Swan kids prevent the catastrophe. Foiled, Miko resorts to the extreme, threatening Ayame's life...

New Level titles
Find the preview to A Chieftain Finds Love (Kojou no Utahime) by Hara Chieko, based on a Barbara Cartland romance, after the release list.

Level Comics manga (2012.05.30)

1. Ceres: A Heaven's Fairy Tale (Ayashi no Ceres) vol 7 of 14 by Watase Yuu

Ayashi no Ceres Tenkuu Otogizoushi 「妖しのセレス　天空お伽草子」 by Watase Yuu Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 7 first published in Japan 1998.06

Awards
Winner, 43rd Shogakukan Manga Awards in the Shoujo category

Reissues/Other languages
Reissued in seven Shogakukan Bunko from 2005.11 to 2006.02
English Ceres: Celestial Legend (VIZ Media: (14 volumes per 2006.02), French (Editions Tonkam: Ayashi no Ceres: Un conte de fée céleste: 14 volumes per 2002.01), German (EMA), Spanish (Glènat España: Ceres: La Leyenda Celestial), Italian (Play Press: La fiaba del cielo), Vietnamese Truyền Thuyết Thiên Nữ

Adaptations
Studio Pierrot's 24-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan on WOWOW from April to September 2000, with seiyuu Kakazu Yumi as Aya Mikage, Iwao Junko as Ceres, Konishi Katsuyuki as Tooya, Itou Kentarou as Yuuhi, Chiba Susumu as Aki, Miki Shinichiro as Mikagi and Sugita Tomokazu as Mikage Kagami.

Light novels written by Nishizaki Megumi and illustrated by Watase Yuu: Ayashi no Ceres Episode of Tooya (one volume Palette bunko: 2000.06); Episode of Shuro (Palette bunko: 2000.09); Episode of Aki (Palette bunko: 2001.01); and Episode of Miku (Palette bunko, three volumes from 2001.06 to 2001.08)

Related
Sequel: Ayashi no Ceres Gaiden (side story included as furoku for Sho-Comi #18; also compiled in Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden vol 6)
Watase Yuu Postcard Book Fushigi Yuugi Ayashi no Ceres Imadoki! (Japan release: 2001.01)

2. [Premiere] A Chieftain Finds Love (Kojou no Utahime) by Hara Chieko

Kojou no Utahime 「古城の歌姫」 by Hara Chieko, Original Story by Barbara Cartland Ohzora Shuppan Emerald Comics Romance Comics, josei This volume first published in Japan 2008.08

Related
Adapts the romance A Chieftain Finds Love by Barbara Cartland.

3. Giant Killing vol 13 of 23+ by Tsujitomo & Tsunamoto Masaya

Giant Killing 「ＧＩＡＮＴ　ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ」 by Tsujitomo and Tsunamoto Masaya Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 13 first published in Japan 2010.01

Awards
34th Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Tatsumi Takeshi), Okiayu Ryotaro (Murakoshi Shigeyuki), Mizushima Takahiro (Tsubaki Daisuke) and Ono Daisuke (Yoshida Luigi) aired between April and September 2010 on NHK.

4. GTO Shonan 14 Days vol 6 of 9 by Fujisawa Toru

GTO Shonan 14 Days 「ＧＴＯ　ＳＨＯＮＡＮ　１４ＤＡＹＳ」 by Fujisawa Toru Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 6 first published in Japan 2011.02

Related series
Prequels: Shounan Junaigumi! AKA GTO: The Early Years (31 of 31 volumes); Bad Company (1 of 1 volume); and GTO (25 of 25 volumes)

Other languages
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: volume 4 per 2010.10), English GTO 14 Days in Shonan (Vertical: three volumes as of 2012.05.29 • volume 4 street date: 2012.07.24)

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The Black Swindler 17, The Drops of God 11, Bambino Secondo 1 by Sekiya Tetsuji (Level Comics 4 April 2012 manga)

☞ Reiterating: Comic prices have gone up↑ as of April 2012. For Level titles, from IDR 18,500 to IDR 20,000/volume. Bunko edition Blue Seal now carries an IDR 24,000 price tag.

Bambino! Secondo © Sekiya Tetsuji/Shogakukan
[Serialized in Big Comic Spirits]
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics

After a challenging internship at the Trattoria Baccanale Roppongi, Shogo Ban has been entrusted the position of pasta chef at the newly-opened branch, Yokohama Legare. To say he stands on a new battlefield is no understatement. Opening day brings typhoon-like chaos and Ban still has trouble adjusting to having assistants, not to mention leaving behind his loved ones.

Can Ban cope? asks Level, tongue in cheek, I'm imagining. (It has only been hyping Bambino! Secondo from the time prequel Bambino! wrapped — and that was some four months ago).

Like its predecessor, Bambino! Secondo also serializes in Big Comic Spirits, and as of March this year, has been compiled in 10 tankou.

Aside from Bambino! and Bambino! Secondo, Sekiya Tetsuji is also credited with the seinen manga Django!, first serialized in Morning (two volumes published between March and April 2001), and Oudoumon (two volumes published by Takeshobo's Kindai Mahjong Comics from February to July 2003).

I babble about the other Level manga debut—Ayamine Rando's Demons, Exorcism, Student Council Holy Talker—after the release list. For nau, top DO WANT!

The Black Swindler vol 17 of 20
By Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosaki's case reunites the Swindler of Swindlers with an old school friend, a once—and apparently, future—fraud victim.

The Black Swindler volume 17 compiles two cases in chapters 175 to 179 and 180 to 185.

The Drops of God vol 11 of 32+
By Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

The Third Apostle poses problems not only for inexperienced Shizuku, but even Tomine whose confidence is at an all time high from partnering with Loulan. Both guess wrong, prompting Robert Doi to deem both unworthy of Yutaka's wine legacy and threatening to strip their inheritance if they fail to identify the Third Apostle within three days.

Who will win the rematch? (Obviously) the answer lies in The Drops of God volume 11.

Thirty-two Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu tankou have been published in Japan as of February 2012; the 33rd is set for a 23 May 2012 release.

Level Comics manga (2012.04.04)

1. Ami Non Stop vol 2 of 12 by Kitagawa Miyuki

Ami! Nonstop 「亜未！ノンストップ」 by Kitagawa Miyuki Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 1993.06

Reissues
Rereleased in six volumes under the Flower Comics Deluxe label from 2001.05 to 1993.09

2. [Series Premiere] Bambino! Secondo vol 1 of 10+ by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! Secondo 「バンビ～ノ！ＳＥＣＯＮＤＯ」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.08

Related series
Prequel: Bambino! (15 volumes)

3. The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) vol 17 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosagi 「クロサギ」 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 17 (chapters 175–179 and 180–185) first published in Japan 2008.02

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (2007), along with Sekiya Tetsuji's Bambino!

Related
Sequel: Shin Kurosagi (14 volumes as of 2012.03.30)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action renzoku starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Kurosaki) and Horikita Maki (Yoshikawa Tsurara) aired on TBS from April to June 2006. A movie starring the same leads premiered in Japan on 8 March 2008.

4. Blue Seal (Ao no Fuuin [Bunko]) vol 6 of 7 by Shinohara Chie

Ao no Fuuin 「蒼の封印　(小学館文庫)」 by Shinohara Chie AKA The seal on deep blue Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Bunko volume 6 first published in Japan 1999.05 (originally published in 11 tankoubon from 1992.04 to 1994.12)

Adaptations
Audio drama CD released by Shogakukan in May 1993 and light novels written by Yamamoto Natsumi and illustrated by Shinohara Chie, published under the KSS Comic Novels imprint (three volumes from September to December 1998)

5. The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) vol 11 of 32+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu 「神の雫」 by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 11 first published in Japan 2007.05

Awards
Special Award of the Year - La Revue du vin de France (French wine magazine); Nominee (Glénat's Les Gouttes de Dieu, tome 1), French Angoulême Comics Awards; Nominee, 1st Keitai Comic Taishō (Mobile Phone Comic Award, along with Hiura Satoru's Hotaru no Hikari, Miyasaka Kaho's Kare First Love and 17 other manga)

Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu Tome 22 shipped 2012.02 • Tome 23 street date: 2012.05.09), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: 神之水滴 30 per 2011.12), English Drops of God (Vertical: three volumes as of 2012.03.27 • volume 4 street date: 2012.06.12)

Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV.

6. GTO vol 7 of 25 by Fujisawa Toru

GTO 「ＧＴＯ」 by Fujisawa Toru Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 7 (Lessons 51-59) first published in Japan 1998.06

Awards
Winner, 1998 Kodansha Manga Awards in the Shounen category

Other languages
Bilingual Japanese/English (Kodansha International, three volumes per 1999.12), English GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka (TOKYOPOP: 25 volumes), French (PIKA Édition: 25 volumes), Italian (Dynamic Italia), German (EMA), Polish (Waneko), Swedish (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB; serialized in Manga Mania), traditional Chinese (Tong Li)

Related series
Prequels Shounan Junaigumi! AKA GTO: The Early Years (31 volumes) and Bad Company (one volume) and sequel GTO Shonan 14 Days (nine volumes as at 2011.11, concluded)

Adaptations
A live-action GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka TV series, starring Sorimachi Takashi (Onizuka Eikichi) and Matsushima Nanako (Fuyutsuki Azusa) telecast from July to September 1998 on Fuji TV and Kansai TV, followed by GTO Drama Special (1999.08.28) and GTO: The Movie (1999) and Studio Pierrot's 43-episode Great Teacher Onizuka anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Takagi Wataru as Onizuka that aired between June 1999 and September 2000.

7. GTO Shonan 14 Days vol 5 of 9 by Fujisawa Toru

GTO Shonan 14 Days 「ＧＴＯ　ＳＨＯＮＡＮ　１４ＤＡＹＳ」 by Fujisawa Toru Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2010.10

Related series
Prequels: Shounan Junaigumi! AKA GTO: The Early Years (31 of 31 volumes); Bad Company (1 of 1 volume); and GTO (25 of 25 volumes)

Other languages
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: volume 4 per 2010.10), English GTO 14 Days in Shonan (Vertical: two volumes as of 2012.03.27 • volume 3 street date: 2012.05.29)

8. [Series Premiere] Holy Talker vol 1 of 6+ by Ayamine Rando

Holy Talker 「ホーリートーカー」 by Ayamine Rando Kodansha Shonen Rival, shounen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2008.09

Adaptations
A Holy Talker drama CD was bundled with the limited edition volume 4 released 2009.07 with Kamakari Kenta as Takayama Renga and Suzumura Kenichi as Amakusa Chitose.

9. Onsen Paradise (Kirikiritei no Braun Sensei) vol 5 of 9 by Kikuchi Shota

Kirikiritei no Braun Sensei 「きりきり亭のぶら雲先生」 by Kikuchi Shota Gentosha Birz Comics Deluxe, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2001.01

Related
Sequel: Kirikiri Teishujin (two volumes per 2010.12, ongoing)

Reissues
Re-released in four bunko volumes from 2009.03 to 2009.07

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2012.04.04)

1. Agatha Christie: The Secret Adversary Musuh Dalam Selimut (Agatha Christie, Tome 5: Mister Brown) by Francois Riviere, Frank Leclercq (Heupe Sarl-Emmanuel Proust Editions)
2. Smurf: Kekacauan di Desa Smurf (Les Schtroumpfs, Tome 21: On ne schtroumpfe pas le progrès) by Peyo (Le Lombard)

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